ASREC : Alcohol Facts to Share With Others
Accurate information about alcohol and alcohol problems is necessary for the public
to get a true picture of what role alcohol plays in the health of the public.
The following facts are based upon the scientific wisdom of the Center's faculty
members. For most, there are scientific references available. For others, the
"facts" are the result of cumulative knowledge in the areas of addiction science and
pharmacology.
To find information on a specific topic, please
user our search function available on our home page.
Please note that the dates in parenthesis reflect the date in which the fact was first
published on this site.
*Copyright-protected. These sections cannot be printed or down-loaded without permission of the
Director: erickson.carl@mail.utexas.edu.
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300. What are "alcopops"? Also known as "malternatives", these are new
hard lemonades and fruit-flavored malt beverages that are appealing to
teenagers, some sources say. They have an alcohol content from 4-8%.
There is some evidence that such beverages increase the amount consumed at
each sitting, based upon their masking of the taste of hard alcohol, which
might lead to more intoxication. Research on the level of use and
consequences of these beverages is needed to make a determination of their
value and dangers. (September 26, 2005)
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299. What is the market for medications to treat alcoholism? One source says 18 million people. But the NIAAA website states that alcoholism is "alcohol
dependence", a more specific definition, which at an estimated incidence of around 4% in the United States is approximately 11 million people who are alcohol
dependent. Since the FDA is approving medications primarily for the treatment of alcohol dependent patients, the 18 million estimate is quite high. And the market
is only as good as accessibility, which will be low until physicians appreciate that alcohol dependence is a disease that can be treated with prescription
medications. (Sept. 19, 2005)
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298. Which brain neurotransmitter receptors are affected by alcohol? The easy answer is "most of them", since ethanol affects most neurotransmitter systems.
Recent research is focusing on glutamate, GABA, and NMDA brain receptors and how alcohol changes those receptors to produce its pharmacologic effects. Another
recent study suggests that ethanol affects cannabis (i.e., for marijuana-like effects) binding sites, called CB1 receptors, in the brain. (September 12, 2005)
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297. A researcher recently commented on benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, etc) used for alcohol withdrawal: "unlike anticonvulsants -- benzodiazepines have the
potential to trigger relapse, and the interaction of benzodiazepine and alcohol can be fatal." This mistaken impression is held by many who don't understand the way
benzodiazepines block potentially lethal withdrawal seizures during alcohol dependence treatment. Benzodiazepines are given carefully while alcohol levels are
declining (not increasing), and giving these drugs therapeutically produces little likelihood of dependence. Then they are discontinued, so they have no potential
to produce relapse, since the person is under treatment. Experience has shown that most patients never want to use benzodiazepines because of their exposure to them
during detoxification. (September 5, 2005)
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296. Do women reduce or stop their consumption of alcohol during
pregnancy? Most do, some don't. Although a little research has
implicated hormone and psychological changes as the reason why many women
stop drinking during pregnancy, the exact percentage of those who do and
why they do it is still unknown. Some women drink less, and a small
percentage don't reduce their drinking at all, suggesting they are
dependent on alcohol and require intense intervention and treatment to
reduce the harm to their babies. (August 29, 2005)
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295. There's a popular drink in Holland and Belgium called "jenever" ("The Dutch National Drink"). It is a 38-50% distilled spirit, with over a hundred different
flavors, which is drunk chilled, straight, or in various mixed drinks. It is similar to gin in other countries. Like other liquors, caution is advised because it is a
smooth beverage and the effects are often felt after too much has been consumed. (August 22, 2005)
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294. Can alcohol increase stomach cancer? It has always made intuitive sense that because alcohol
causes gastrointestinal irritation, particularly of the stomach and esophagus, that it might increase
cancer risk. One study has suggested that acetaldehyde, the primary breakdown product of ethanol and a
known carcinogen, does increase the incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer. (August 15, 2005)
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293. Recently, the quality of research and the integrity of scientists
have been questioned. For example, a report in the Journal of the
American Medical Association stated that 16 percent of published studies
were contradicted by later studies. In addition, another 16 percent of
studies saw their findings weakened by subsequent discoveries. Although
every professional field has its share of weak or shoddy workers (even
medicine and law!), most published scientific studies are peer reviewed
for quality control and represent merely steps along the path toward
truth. It is reasonable for studies to contradict each other, since
single findings are often not strong enough to form a solid, irrefutable
conclusion. However, many studies over time will provide a clearer
picture of whether a particular hypothesis has been proven or disproved.
(August 8, 2005)
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292. About one-half to two-thirds of boating accidents are
alcohol-related. Advertisements by the alcohol industry suggesting a
"fun" relationship between alcohol and boating, therefore, are
irresponsible. Although there is no direct evidence that alcohol
advertising directly increases boating accidents, one could ask the
question, "what is the value of such advertising, especially when the rate
of alcohol-related boating accidents is so high?" (August 1, 2005)
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291. "I can't be legally intoxicated because I only had two drinks!" This is a false statement often made by individuals who don't understand alcohol
pharmacology or who are trying to cover up the fact that they drank more than two drinks. What is a drink? One 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of
wine, and one shot (1.5 ounces) of spirits are generally equivalent "beverage units". Restaurants and bars, however, serve oversize or over-poured
drinks, unless the drink comes pre-packaged (as in a bottle of beer). With wine, bars tend to give standard "doses" for a high price, to make money.
With liquor, however, the more booze in a drink, the better it is! So be careful of two drinks - they may actually be three or four! (July 25, 2005)
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290. Is there a single question that can indicate unhealthy alcohol use?
An interest among scientists and clinicians involves brief screening
methods for problem drinking. One possibility is a question that asks
about the frequency and amount of drinking. One question that seems to
have high sensitivity and specificity is a question such as the following:
"When was the last time you had more than X drinks in 1 day?" with X being
5 for men and 4 for women. An answer of "in the past three months" had a
sensitivity of 85-82% and a specificity of %70-77 in men and women,
respectively. There were similar findings when the question was asked
face-to-face or by telephone. (July 18, 2005)
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289. A new federal report indicates that about 1 in three young adults
(ages 21-25) have driven while under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs. Is drinking and driving perceived to be so innocuous by young
people, or are young people just risk takers? The continuing problem of
youth drinking to excess and drinking and driving points out the fact that
one generation cannot be targeted for prevention; rather, prevention and
proper education are continuing efforts that require enormous work.
Here's a thought: why not make alcohol pharmacology a part of the science
curriculum in elementary schools and teach it beginning as early as
possible (first grade) and with new information added each year? (July
11, 2005)
- 288. Can we find genes that cause alcoholism? The concept that a single or multiple gene(s) causes alcoholism is much more complex than we expected.
The latest research on "genomics" is telling us that the interplay of several genes probably affects the risk of developing the disease. Some gene sequences
will greatly enhance the risk of becoming alcohol dependent, while other sequences will only somewhat enhance the risk. Other sequences may somewhat lower
the risk of developing the disease. (July 4, 2005)
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287. Naltrexone and acamprosate are two medications that help alcohol
dependent patients reduce their craving for alcohol. Both of these drugs
are approved for treatment, and their best use is that they reduce relapse
in abstinence-based treatment programs. Naltrexone works through the
endorphin system of the brain, whereas acamprosate works through the
GABA/glutamate system. (June 27, 2005)
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286. Do alcohol ads promote underage drinking and binge drinking?
Available research says "yes", but this is a difficult phenomenon to
study. With so many influences on youth, there may not be a direct causal
effect of advertising on drinking. How do we know that the family, life
stressors, or risk-taking behavior of underage people doesn't promote
drinking? To say that an advertisement promotes binge drinking is pretty
difficult. On the other hand, if the ads have no influence, why are they
there (billboards, subways, television)? If the alcohol industry is truly
attempting to promote brand sales and loyalty, then does this have to be
done where American youth can see such ads? (June 20, 2005)
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285. Does alcohol increase the risk of some types of cancer? Alcohol does seem to somewhat increase the risk of breast cancer, and oral,
gastric, and intestinal cancers might also be facilitated by the drug. Interestingly, a recent review of several existing studies suggests
that people who drink alcohol have a 27-percent lower risk of contracting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma than non-drinkers. The complex effects of
alcohol, including types of beverages, concentration and amount of alcohol consumed, interacting with genetic factors in the causes of cancer
still require much more research for a final answer. (June 13, 2005)
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284. What? A powdered alcohol product? A powdered alcohol drink (called "subyou") is sold in Germany and allegedly contains 4.8 per cent alcohol by
volume. Packets are sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and bars. Whether such products will be popular is yet to be seen. A similar powdered
product was available in the U.S. about 30 years ago and never caught on. (June 6, 2005)
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283. The World Health Organization (WHO) is beginning a worldwide study on alcohol use. A recent WHO report has stated that drinking
causes at least 1.8 million deaths a year, or 4% of all worldwide deaths. "Public-health problems associated with alcohol consumption have
reached alarming proportions and alcohol has become one of the most important risks to health globally," the report said. (May 30, 2005)
- 282. Are designated driver programs effective? Designating one person in a group of
drinkers to be the sober driver for the evening sounds like a good idea. However, according to a
report from the U.S. Task Force on Community Preventive Services, there is little evidence that
such programs reduce drunk driving and alcohol-related crashes. Apparently few designated
drivers actually abstain from drinking. In some cases, the least-intoxicated person is chosen to
be the driver, which defeats the purpose of the program. (May 23, 2005)
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281. Disulfiram (Antabuse), a medication used for the reduction of "alcoholism", is being used
in clinical studies for the treatment of cocaine dependence. What possible reason would cause
scientists to treat cocaine dependence with Antabuse? There is some (old) evidence that Antabuse
affects dopamine function in the body, and cocaine is known to affect dopamine levels in cell
synapses in the brain. It's worth trying, since there is really no "magic bullet" for helping
cocaine dependent patients. (May 16, 2005)
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280. A sustained release form of naltrexone is in clinical trials. Naltrexone is a medicine that
reduces the possibility of relapse in alcohol dependent patients who are in abstinence-based
treatment. The sustained release form is useful because one dose lasts about a month, thus
increasing compliance in patients who might forget (or don't want) to take a tablet every day.
(May 9, 2005)
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279. Can reducing the supply of alcohol reduce drunk-driving deaths? Of course! There is plenty of research to suggest that this reasonable approach can have a
positive outcome. The question is, does this work at the community level? And how does a community make this happen? Recent interesting research suggests that
comprehensive, community-wide efforts in this area are effective. The next question becomes, how can the government motivate communities all across the nation
implement such programs? (May 2, 2005)
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278. What, exactly, is binge drinking? Binge drinking is episodic drinking, meaning that people can consume a large number of drinks in a short period of time. Some researchers have
defined "large number" as five drinks in a sitting. But is it binge drinking if a person drinks 40 bottles of beer in a 12-hour period? What about the person who drinks at a constant
rate for three days during an outdoor festival, and then never drinks again for two weeks? Is this binge drinking or "alcoholism"? What about the person who drinks five drinks a day for a
week while on a Caribbean vacation? It seems as if the definition of binge drinking needs clarification. (April 25, 2005)
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277. At what point will a drinking person be unable to safely drive a motor vehicle? While state laws set the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit at 0.08%, there is evidence that lower BACs
can also affect driving skills. For example, there are some older British studies indicating that 0.04% can negatively affect driving skills. Add to this that everyone has a somewhat
different response to alcohol, and we conclude that some people's driving can be affected by low BACs, whereas other people are not significantly affected until their BAC reaches a higher
level. States have set fixed limits, which is the statistical way of saying that most people will be impaired above a certain BAC. Wouldn't it be nice if we could determine how sensitive
every person is to alcohol, before they make a decision to drive? (April 18, 2005)
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276. Does drinking alcohol increase the quantity and quality of breast
milk? This is another of the many myths that seem to be part of our
folklore. Recent interesting studies indicate that drinking alcohol can
actually reduce the quantity of breast milk, since alcohol affects the
release of oxytocin and prolactin, two hormones involved in the production
of milk. This doesn't mean that nursing mothers shouldn't drink at all,
but should be careful, since some women are more affected by alcohol than
others. (April 11, 2005)
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275. A recent study indicates that people with a variant of the DRD2 gene
(a gene associated with dopamine function in the brain) may be more prone to
receive pleasure from drinking. The implication is that people with this gene
might drink more than people without the variant. Does this mean the gene variant
may be the cause of alcohol dependence? No, since this gene merely relates to
the pleasure associated with drinking, which is not the same as the genetic cause
of alcohol dependence. (April 4, 2005)
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274. Think that medical personnel have the highest rate of alcohol
problems? Not according to an interesting new survey that uses the
Alcohol Cost Calculator. The highest likely number of problem drinkers
(alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent employees) are in the mining and
construction fields, with wholesale and retail employees next. In
contrast, in government agencies and professional services such as law,
medicine, and architecture, there is a much smaller percentage of workers
with alcohol problems. (March 28, 2005)
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273. According to one study, malt-liquor drinkers are more likely to be
homeless, unemployed, or receiving public assistance than those who drink
other alcoholic beverages. The study also concluded that malt-liquor
drinkers consumed more alcohol than other drinkers, in part because malt
liquor has a higher alcohol content than beer and is sold in larger
containers. (March 21, 2005)
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272. When state and federal budgets become tight, legislators look for ways to raise money. What better way than to increase taxes on cigarettes and
alcohol (formerly called a "sin tax")? Good studies indicate that raising taxes on these "addictive" substances does tend to lower the use of these
products, especially among young people. Do increased taxes reduce dependence on these drugs? Not among those who already have the disease. (March 14,
2005)
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271. People observe that "drinking declines with age". Why might this happen? First, alcohol misusers find as they get older that large amounts of
alcohol are not as pleasurable as they used to be, and such amounts tend to cause more troublesome physical and mental effects. Thus abusers tend to
moderate their drinking. In addition, alcohol dependent people are often in recovery at older ages. Is there much research on this topic? Not nearly
enough. (March 7, 2005)
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270. How does alcohol cause death? Overdoses (leading to respiratory
failure), drowning, drunk driving crashes, homicides, suicides, fire
deaths, firearms accidents, and unintentional falls are ways in which
alcohol is involved in deaths. According to a recent study, the risk of
drowning is especially high in drinkers, over 3.5 times that of
nondrinkers. (February 28, 2005)
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269. Does binge-drinking damage the brain? It is well-known that the brain is damaged by long-term, heavy drinking, as in
older people who are alcohol dependent or heavy drinkers. It is less clear whether binge-drinking can damage the brain. A few
studies have shown that binges of alcohol exposure in young animals can damage nerve cells. There is almost no direct evidence
that this happens in humans. Such studies could be performed by brain imaging methods and are badly needed. (February 21,
2005)
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268. Recent binge-drinking deaths have highlighted the need for universities to find ways to reduce the often out-of-control drinking practices of college
students. While binge-drinking is often considered a "right of passage" for college students, and restaurants and bars have a right to make a buck, at some
point policy makers will have to make a decision about whether the consequences of heavy drinking are worth maintaining the status quo. In the meantime,
alcohol manufacturers continue to pore lots of money into university athletic coffers through commercials and advertising during televised sports events.
(February 14, 2005)
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267. A recent government study indicates that more than one in three people who have been alcohol dependent are now in recovery. This is
surprising in light of the scarcity of formal treatment for alcohol dependence, and may be due to the effectiveness of twelve-step programs.
(February 7, 2005)
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266. Are low calorie spirits less fattening and less "addicting"? A new
low-calorie rum is designed to be to regular rum what light beers are to
regular beers. Low-calorie rum would contain a different flavoring agent
and only about 18% alcohol. It is clear that this "light rum" will
probably boost rum sales, but such a beverage will also appeal to younger
people. In addition, people will think they can drink more without
gaining weight and with a reduced chance of alcohol abuse and "addiction".
In actuality, consumers will neither lose weight nor reduce the chances of
alcohol dependence. (January 31, 2005)
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265. Is a person who drinks in the morning an alcoholic? Although most
experts agree that an "eye
opener" in the morning is a sign of alcoholism, this is not always true. What about the person who
enjoys a Bloody Mary or Screwdriver in the morning while on vacation? What about the "graveyard
shift" laborer who gets off work at 7 am and has a drink before going home to sleep for the day?
What about a Mimosa (orange juice and champagne) the first morning of the honeymoon? Taken alone,
these instances do not indicate alcohol dependence. Combined with other signs and symptoms of heavy
drinking, these drinking episodes might be much more meaningful. (January 24, 2005)
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264. There are new hangover remedies available in pharmacies. Are these effective? No, these products are simply a waste of
money, since controlled studies showing they are more effective than placebos (sugar pills) have not been done. Everyone has a favorite
hangover remedy, and each one works based upon individual superstition. But there is nothing on the market that will overcome a
hangover anymore than some herbal remedies will slow the aging process. Beware of those people who want to take your money! (January
17, 2005)
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263. What role do acetate and acetaldehyde (break-down products of alcohol) play in the production of "alcoholism"
(alcohol dependence)? Very little, according to available research. Old ideas that acetaldehyde is a poison that
leads to organ damage and perhaps brain damage, and that the rate at which acetaldehyde turns to acetate in the
brain influences the onset of alcoholism, have not been substantiated by science. (January 10, 2005)
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262. Which is more "addictive"--alcohol or marijuana? According to available figures, about 10-12% of people who drink
will become dependent on alcohol. The same source indicates that about 9% of people who smoke marijuana on a regular
basis will become dependent on the drug. Both of these drugs are less "addicting" than others such as cocaine (~17%),
heroin (~23%), and nicotine (~32%). But "addiction" is not the only factor in the use of these drugs--intoxication
outcomes, lethality, and social consequences are also important. (January 3, 2005)
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261. A drug interaction can occur when beverage alcohol is mixed with cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, a mild
opioid cough suppressant. The major interactive effect is one of increased depression leading to drowsiness and sleep.
This interaction is significant in some people but not evident in other people, and there is no certain way to predict who
will have the interaction and who will not. (December 27, 2004)
- 260. A new animal study suggests that a brain chemical (called galanin) increases the tendency to overeat and is
also linked to increased alcohol consumption. According to this research, galanin produces a "positive feedback loop"
that increases craving for food and alcohol. (December 20, 2004)
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259. At least one major American university has recently banned alcohol in all frat houses and residences, in response to student alcohol
overdose deaths. This, coupled with increased educational programs on campus, is part of the solution. But until young people are taught,
at a very early age, to respect alcohol (and other drugs) for the danger that they can produce, college drinking and drugging will
continue. (December 13, 2004)
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258. What causes a "beer belly"? According to a recent study by the Center for
Alcohol Research in Denmark, people who drink large amounts of alcohol in one or two
sittings are more likely to be apple-shaped. So is it beer, and is it
binge-drinking? Actually, it's more likely to be a combination of genetics and
environment (for example, all types of alcoholic beverages, drinking patterns,
nutrition, etc.). This is a very difficulty phenomenon to explain. (December 6,
2004)
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257. Can alcohol cause diabetes? We first have to recall that there are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type
1 is a more severe type that appears to be an autoimmune disease where the body tries to reject the pancreas. Therefore
the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin is greatly reduced or absent. Type 2 has more to do with obesity,
inadequate exercise, or excessive sugar intake. There is some indication that heavy drinking can elevate fasting blood
glucose levels, but whether alcohol causes this type 2 diabetes is still open to question. It is not likely that alcohol
causes Type 1 diabetes. (November 29, 2004)
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256. Fast cars and booze are never a good combination. NASCAR's recent decision, after dissociating themselves from tobacco advertising
last year, to allow distilled spirits advertising on their cars, is puzzling. Some would say this sends a mixed message about drinking
and driving to Americans, especially young people. Even more serious is that NASCAR's website sells model cars with booze advertising on
them. Is this another example of putting profits over public health? (November 22, 2004)
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255. Some recent animal research suggests that brain cells destroyed by long-time exposure to alcohol can be reversed when the animal
(human?) is abstinent from alcohol for awhile. This finding seems to fly in the face of long-held beliefs that brain cells, once
destroyed, cannot live again. But the excitement of research is that old beliefs can be wrong. We know by experience that sober
alcoholics do get better in their cognitive function and memory, and brain scans even indicate that their brains begin to return to
normal over time. The challenge now is to determine how much recovery occurs and how long it takes, and whether some people are immune
to such recovery. (November 15, 2004)
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254. Recent student deaths related to alcohol have gotten some university administrators' attention.
Not all the deaths were related to alcohol overdose. Some were due to falls and other accidents
associated with high consumption. It is critical that students receive some training on what alcohol
can do pharmacologically, as well as what it can't do. It is amazing that some students still do not
know that alcohol can produce death via overdose. Wouldn't a required campus course on basic effects
of alcohol and other drugs be appropriate for all institutions of higher learning? (November 8, 2004)
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253. A recent trend is for more emergency room doctors to be screening patients for alcohol problems. This follows a lot
of good research indicating that people showing up in emergency rooms are not only involved in alcohol-related incidents,
but that at the time of injury they are more amendable to intervention about drinking problems. Society needs more
opportunities such as this for physicians to be involved in reducing alcohol abuse and dependence. (November 1, 2004)
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252. Britain's brewery giant Scottish & Newcastle (Kronenbourg and Foster brands) and Coors, maker of Carling Lager, are addressing
binge drinking by voluntarily placing health warnings on their beer bottles. Next question: Why can't brewers, wineries, and
distillers around the world (including the U.S.) do the same? (October 25, 2004)
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251. A U.S. brewer recently launched a new caffeine-containing beer flavored with ginseng and fruit flavors. Why? Their
reason is to "gain a larger market share of beer drinkers". However, a case could be made that young people will look at this
product as a way to drink more beer and remain alert, thereby falsely believing they can drink more before driving home. And
how do we know whether the flavored beers might not entice even younger drinkers? Unfortunately, no studies have been done on
the long-term demographics of drinkers of such beverages. But why have such research anyway? Brewers will make more money,
which is the main reason for new products. (October 18, 2004)
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250. Recent alcohol overdose deaths have prompted university officials to take another
look at alcohol use/availability on college campuses.Duh! Hasn't alcohol always been a
part of college life? The real challenge is to convince college students that alcohol can
cause death! Amazingly, most college students do not realize the dangers of alcohol. Why
is it so difficult to get a basic alcohol pharmacology course approved in university
curricula? (The answer is: kids will be kids; I got through college while drinking,
so my kids can; alcohol is not really that dangerous; beverage producers wouldn't really
try to hurt my kid,...blah, blah, blah.)(October 11, 2004)
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249. Can we track how much people drink? In Barcelona, Spain, bar patrons with a microchip implanted in their arm allows them to pay for
alcoholic drinks without using cash or credit cards. While this might seem like a way to increase drinking because of convenience (or an invasion
of personal privacy), the advantage might be in tracking alcohol use and abuse in alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, or overdose deaths.
(October 4, 2004)
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248. Beware of a new hangover remedy purporting to "ward off alcoholism"! A product known as REBOUND is being advertised on the Internet, accompanied by
20-30 year-old studies (some of which are cited incorrectly) as a backdrop in an attempt to validate their product. In actuality, the studies they cite are
no longer valid or popular, and some of those studies regarding the pharmacology of acetaldehyde have actually been disproven. Until a large number of
studies on a product prove its efficacy in humans, any products marketed with such claims are simply a waste of money. This applies to any product not
approved by the Food and Drug Administration. (September 27, 2004)
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247. What are "Jello shooters"? These are unpredictable alcohol concoctions. One common recipe is to mix a cup of water with a cup of your favorite spirit (usually vodka, and please don't use 190-proof Everclear)
along with a package of Jello. Freeze until firm. (And hope your party guests find them before your kids do.......) A typical shooter will contain the equivalent of 1-2 shots of "your favorite spirit" (depending on
the size of the portion) and will produce intoxication in a short period of time. Be careful- because there is no standard recipe, these can be dangerous! (September 20, 2004)
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246. Why is there a genetic basis for alcohol dependence? Because the genetics of alcohol problems have been studied for over 20 years, and such studies have
clearly shown that over 50% of the causes of alcohol dependence are related to the genetic tendency to develop the disease. Family, twin, and adoption studies
implicate the hereditary nature of alcohol dependence. Exciting new findings are showing that neurotransmitter receptors in the brain (for GABA, serotonin, and
other chemicals) are somehow involved in the vulnerability of people for the disease. (September 13, 2004)
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245. Moderate alcohol consumption could reduce the negative effects of a heart attack, according to a new study. Should physicians start recommending a drink a day for reducing the
aftereffects of a heart attack? Of course not, since a single study (especially in animals) must be replicated many times, and the effects shown in humans. But alcohol in moderation
does have proven beneficial effects on prevention of ischemic heart disease. (September 6, 2004)
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244. Can alcohol be taken in a vapor form? An expensive new alcohol-without-liquid (AWOL) device vaporizes alcoholic beverages to provide a new way to take alcohol.
Long ago, scientists gave rodents alcohol in vapor chambers to produce high stable blood alcohol levels (BAL) for experimentation. The new AWOL device is scary,
however, since vapor/BAL correlations have not been done for humans, as they have with oral alcohol intake. Thus it is not possible to predict BAL for drink/driving
purposes, and new drug administration forms (remember crack, black tar heroin) tend to be overused and abused. Reaching lethal BALs with such devices should be rather
easy. The upside? None. Companies selling such devices will make money, but for what purpose? Is snorting alcohol better than a good beer or a fine wine? (August 30,
2004)
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243. Another medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Acamprosate, which seems to work through
the GABA/glutamate systems of the brain's pleasure pathway, apparently reduces relapse in alcohol dependent patients undergoing abstinence treatment. It may also
reduce craving for alcohol. This drug has shown effectiveness for years in Europe, and recent U.S. studies have confirmed its effectiveness and relative safety.
It joins naltrexone as the only drugs to directly affect the brain to reduce the symptoms of alcohol dependence. (August 23, 2004)
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242. Recent surveys indicate that driving deaths and injuries are at their lowest point in 38 years. Experts credit less drunk driving, increased use of seat belts, and more state DWI
legal limits of 0.08 (compared to 0.10 previously). Is this a trend, or will the deaths and injuries rise again later? Over years, such phenomena tend to wax and wane, but scientists
should be studying the exact reasons for improvement in the figures, and try to make safe strategies consistent from year to year. (August 16, 2004)
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241. More than 17 million Americans -- 8.5 percent of the population -- have alcohol-use disorders, and 4.2 million meet the criteria for other drug-use
disorders, according to a new survey by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Approximately 5% of Americans are alcohol dependent - the
technical term for "alcoholism". (August 9, 2004)
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240. The health benefits of alcohol are always of concern to those who see only the dangerous side of the beverages. A recent review of existing studies by the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has determined that the health benefits of alcohol depend on a person's age, gender, and overall medical history.
The review found that for the general population, two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women relate to lower mortality and are unlikely to cause harm. A
standard "drink" is defined as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. (August 2, 2004)
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239. Does alcohol damage brain receptors? Whereas the long-term use of high amounts of alcohol is known to damage brain cells, it is not yet clear whether alcohol over the short term (as in binge drinking) can
damage nerve cell neurotransmitter receptors. Certainly there is a negative effect of alcohol on memory, and sometimes long-lasting mental depression, and this suggests that the receptors might be affected.
Permanent damage to such receptors has not as yet been demonstrated, however. (July 26, 2004)
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238. People often think that alcohol affects the kidney since increased urination usually accompanies drinking. Actually,
alcohol increases urine volume through an effect on the anti-diuretic hormone of the pituitary gland in the brain. (July
19, 2004)
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237. Can a person with a chronic kidney problem drink alcohol? Long-term research and understanding in this area says
that alcohol has very few direct effects on the kidney. However, if a person is taking drugs to treat kidney disease, or
if drugs are being taken that are cleared primarily through the kidney, then alcohol could affect how those drugs work, and
should probably be avoided. (July 12, 2004)
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236. Is it possible to measure brain alcohol levels without putting a probe in the brain or removing the brain? Yes,
although the work has only been done so far in animals. A new method called magnetic resonance spectroscopy is able to
measure the alcohol levels in different parts of the brain, and to plot its disappearance after individual doses. (July
5, 2004)
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235. New research has found that genes for two neurotransmitter receptors are probably involved in the causes of alcohol
dependence. These two receptors, GABA-A, and a form of the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter (SER, 5-HT), may
produce abnormalities in the mesolimbic dopamine system that cause people to be unable to stop drinking. (June 28, 2004)
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234. What about a genetic test for alcohol dependence? Presently, the only available tests are "paper-and-pencil" tests and "biomarkers". Paper-and-pencil tests involve asking questions of people who are
drinking too much or too often and using their answers to determine whether they have the disease. These are not medical tests. Presently available blood or urine biomarker tests cannot determine who has
alcohol dependence, only whether a person has been drinking recently.
Thus a genetic test would be an excellent medical test, and some genetic tests are under development. (June 21, 2004)
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233. Brain areas associated with the cause of alcohol dependence include the ventral striatum, the extended amygdala, the ventral tegmental area, the nucleus accumbens, and the frontal cortex. These technical
terms describe brain areas that are involved in the production of alcohol dependence, including memory of the drug's action, craving for the drug, and the pleasure of taking the drug. However, a
"dysregulation" of these areas (meaning they aren't working properly) is associated with the actual disease of alcohol dependence. (June 14, 2004)
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232. The "craving" associated with alcohol dependence has been localized to a brain area known as the orbitofrontal cortex, which basically lies behind the forehead. This area "lights up" in brain imaging
studies when a person is feeling that they really want alcohol. (June 7, 2004)
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231. There is a complex interaction between drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. During treatment for alcohol dependence, it is difficult to obtain approval from patients to stop smoking as well. It's
almost as if the addictive process for alcohol and nicotine is not affected by alcohol treatment. The continuance of the addictive process is best seen by a person who continues smoking after giving up
alcohol. (May 31, 2004)
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230. The old medicine disulfiram (Antabuse) does not work very well for treating alcoholism, primarily because alcoholics don't like to take it. It makes a person sick when alcohol is drunk, and unless the
person is being "punished" for drinking, there is no good reason to take Antabuse. Interestingly, Antabuse is turning out to be effective in reducing craving for cocaine in cocaine dependent people. (May 24,
2004)
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229. In adults, one ounce of whiskey (or gin, vodka, etc. - about 80 proof or 40% alcohol) is generally metabolized (broken down) in the
body in about one hour. Remember that several drinks containing this amount drunk in less than an hour will accumulate, since it takes a
full hour for each drink to be broken down. (May 17, 2004)
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228. Consumable alcohol is often dispensed in plastic containers. Why doesn't it melt the plastic? Even though alcohol is known as a "solvent", it
solubilizes only those substances that it mixes with (certain pharmaceuticals, other liquids), but most plastics are designed to be inert or resistant to
powerful chemicals. Ethanol does not have the same qualities as (for example) acetone, which is a powerful solubilizing agent for many solid chemicals.
(May 10, 2004)
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227. Why is alcohol colorless and clear, like water, and why does it mix
easily with water? The answers to these questions are as follows. Most
pure chemicals are colorless. To have color, a molecule must have a
chromophore (often a metallic ion) that gives it color. The fact that
alcohol mixes easily with water is because it easily forms hydrogen bonds
with water. (May 3, 2004; revised July 6, 2004)
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226. Often people talk a lot about "alcoholism" (better: alcohol dependence). Another separate problem that might cause
just as much death, suffering, and economic cost to society is intentional alcohol abuse. This is not a disease, but is
often seen in young people (e.g., college students), and others who make poor decisions about the use of alcohol. These
individuals do not need treatment, but will usually respond to a change in environment, education, or punishment. (April
26, 2004)
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225. Evidence of stigma against alcohol dependent ("alcoholic") people is
all
around us. It ranges from treatment centers having difficulty locating
facilities in new neighborhoods ("not in my back yard") to high-ranking
administrators and policy-makers stating that "(alcoholism) is nature's
way of killing off the weak people". History is too often forgotten -
similar stigma existed for polio, leprosy, epilepsy, and tuberculosis over
50 years ago. Even today, there is stigma and prejudice against
mentally-ill people in general, and addicts in particular. (April 19,
2004)
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224. There is a major interaction when alcohol and antihistamines are
mixed. The same holds true with the benzodiazepine anti-anxiety/hypnotic
class of drugs, the pain-killing opioid drugs, and with marijuana. This
interaction is essentially an additive one, so that the depressant effects
of the drugs are greater than either one alone. Although some have called
these interactions "synergistic effects" (the effect is more than a simple
summation of effects), this is extremely difficulty to measure. (April
12, 2004)
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223. Alcohol is a "lubricant". What does this mean, it reduces friction between moving parts? No, unlike most
lubricants that make things smoother between two materials, alcohol is a social "lubricant" that helps drinkers feel
more comfortable around people. Obviously, this is true only in lower doses, since higher doses make people sleepy!
(April 5, 2004)
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222. People can become "tolerant" to alcohol, meaning that it takes more and more alcohol over time to get the same
effect as when alcohol was first used. How does this happen? There are two primary ways that tolerance to alcohol
occurs. One is through an increased number of liver metabolizing enzymes, an adaptation of the body designed to get
rid of toxins ("liver tolerance"). The other is through adaptation of brain cells to alcohol's actions; through some
as yet unknown mechanism, brain cells become less sensitive to alcohol ("cellular tolerance"). (March 29, 2004)
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221. Among the factors that influence blood alcohol levels after a fixed
number of standard drinks (each containing the equivalent of 1.5 ounces of
80 proof ethanol, for example) are body weight, gender, genetics, amount
of food in the stomach, rate of drinking, presence of other drugs that
affect alcohol metabolism, and overall health of the individual. (March
22, 2004)
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220. Fetal problems produced by alcohol may occur because of reduced blood flow to the fetus; a toxic effect
of acetaldehyde, the major breakdown product of alcohol; or alcohol-induced release of prostaglandins,
chemicals released during tissue damage. (March 15, 2004)
-
219. Several medications might cause severe drowsiness in the presence of alcohol. These include antianxiety agents
(benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium), antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin),
and powerful pain-killers (opioids, such as Vicodin and Percocet). People using alcohol and
one of these prescription drugs should be aware of such drug interactions and avoid driving. (March 8, 2004)
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218. Pregnant women, or those who think they might be pregnant, should not drink at all. While there is no scientific
evidence for alcohol abstinence during pregnancy, this is the safest message. On the other hand, if a woman has a glass of
wine now and then while pregnant, the likelihood of hurting her baby is extremely low. If a woman has one glass of wine
before she knows she's pregnant, she should not be consumed with guilt if the child grows up with a perceived cognitive
deficit (even ADHD). There are more likely causes for such deficits than one alcoholic drink. (March 1, 2004)
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217. What brain areas are affected by high alcohol consumption? While the most noticeable and understandable
effects are on the "memory center" (hippocampus) of the brain, other
areas such as the cerebellum (muscle coordination center) are also negatively affected. (February 23, 2004)
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216. "Alcohol is a solvent that dissolves people" is an old quotation relating to the "addictive" effects of alcohol.
Scientifically, it was formerly believed that alcohol caused nerve membranes to lose their structure, or "dissolve". This has
since been disproved. (February 16, 2004)
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215. Shouldn't this be a warning label on a bottle of beer, whiskey, or
wine? "Caution: users of this product may fall down, throw up, get sick,
get punched out in bars, lose their lives, lose their jobs, lose their
livers, and become so dependent that their lives become totally
unmanageable". For some people, that should be on the bottle!
(Compliments of John T. O'Neill, LCDC.) (February 9, 2004)
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214. Women are more affected by alcohol than men. With similar amounts
of alcohol, women are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure,
suffering liver and pancreatic damage, and becoming considerably more
impaired. (February 2, 2004)
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213. Blackouts after heavy drinking can be experienced by anyone, not just alcohol dependent
("alcoholic") individuals. Many college students typically drink so much at one time that blackouts
are frequent in this population. In any given group of heavy drinkers, some will experience blackouts
and some won't. This is due to biological variability - different people have different sensitivities
to the effects of alcohol. (January 26, 2004)
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212. People who are alcohol dependent lack control over their drinking. An analogy is a patient with Type I diabetes
who cannot control the levels on insulin. Disagree? Talk to an alcohol dependent patient who has unsuccessfully tried
to stop drinking, has received the best treatment available, cannot stop drinking even with support in A.A., and has
tried the latest anti-craving medications, without success. This is why we call it a disease. (January 19, 2004)
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211. Research shows that alcohol causes permanent problems with nervous system function. We know that people who drink
heavily have memory loss, some confusion, and often problems with feelings and sensations in their hands and feet. "Heavily"
does not mean two drinks per day; rather, "pints of spirits per day" is more like it. Although there is great variation from
person to person, over the long term almost everyone will have some negative nervous system function with heavy daily drinking.
(January 12, 2004)
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210. One remedy that is not recommended for hangover headache is
acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.), since it has been shown to cause liver
damage in high doses. Although the drug does not significantly irritate
the stomach, other pain-killers such as ibuprophen or aspirin are better
because they do not produce liver damage and in normal doses will only
cause heartburn in people with sensitive stomachs. (January 5, 2004)
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209. Several factors influence the absorption of alcohol from the
stomach into the blood: a) the amount of food in the stomach, b) the rate
of drinking, c) the amount of alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol metabolizing
enzyme) in the stomach lining, and d) the form of alcohol ("straight" or
diluted, and type of diluting beverage). (December 29, 2003)
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208. "The alcohol went straight to my head" has some scientific validity.
For reasons based upon absorption and distribution principles, alcohol
levels after drinking are initially higher in the brain than in the blood.
(December 22, 2003)
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207. Anytime anyone drinks a lot and then falls asleep, especially when there are other people and activity in the room, the person should be checked for signs of breathing
difficulties. The lethal limit of alcohol in the blood for most people is around 0.40%, which is roughly the equivalent of 12 drinks (for women) or 16 drinks (for men). If the
person is taking medications such as antihistamines, opioid pain-killers, or sedatives (such as Valium), then the lethal limit for alcohol is lowered considerably. (December 15,
2003)
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206. If alcohol "breaks down" (is metabolized) to water and carbon dioxide, why is it so toxic? Ethanol (the alcohol
in beverages) is toxic because of its own molecular effects on tissues. In addition, its first breakdown product
(acetaldehyde) is even more toxic. However, the liver metabolizes acetaldehyde very quickly through enzymatic action,
to acetate, water and carbon dioxide. So the more alcohol consumed, the longer ethanol and acetaldehyde are in
contact with tissues and the more damage will be done. (December 8, 2003)
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205. How much alcohol can cause withdrawal signs and symptoms? The
answer is not simple, since it varies from person to person. Some experts
believe that a hangover is a brief but not dangerous withdrawal period.
On the other end of the spectrum are DTs (delirium tremens), where heavy
drinkers experience hallucinations, muscle tremors, and seizures. Up to
30% of people can die during DTs. In drinkers who consume alcohol on a
constant, heavy basis, and then stop drinking for a few days, withdrawal
can consist of anxiety, sleeplessness, muscle pains, and craving for
alcohol. (December 1, 2003)
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204. Is there a relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol dependence? Yes, but it is unlikely
that ADHD is a cause of alcohol dependence. A recent study has shown that ADHD often precedes the onset of alcohol dependence, but
only in less than about 30% of alcohol dependent patients. However, people with both disorders often have an earlier onset of alcohol
dependence, compared to those without ADHD. (November 24, 2003)
-
203. A new project called COMBINE is being funded by the federal government. Its goal is to determine the effectiveness of
anti-craving medications and "talk therapy" such as Twelve Steps, counseling, etc. for alcohol dependence. A second goal is to
determine the effectiveness of single versus double medication use. (November 17, 2003)
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202. A combination of naltrexone and acamprosate might work better than either one alone in reducing
craving in alcohol dependent patients undergoing treatment. Naltrexone was approved for this purpose in
1994, whereas acamprosate (a drug available in Europe) is undergoing clinical trials in the U.S. These
drugs work on different neurochemical systems in the brain, so that their beneficial effects might be
additive whereas their side effects might not be additive. More studies are needed. (November 10, 2003)
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201. New brain scan research is showing that alcohol affects decision-making and judgment (the so-called "executive functions"
of the brain) by reducing activity in the frontal lobes, where such functions reside. Interestingly, it appears that
pre-existing (or alcohol-induced) impaired function of these same brain areas leads to the disease of alcohol dependence,
making it impossible for the person to exert conscious will over whether they can stop drinking or not. (November 3, 2003)B
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200. The tragedy of drunk driving is very difficult to prevent. The most effective measure is to keep people from drinking at
all. The next most effective measure is to keep them from driving after drinking: use designated drivers, taxi rides, make
them walk, etc. But to expect a drinker to make a decision not to drive after they have been drinking is very difficult, since
alcohol by its pharmacology reduces judgment and decision-making. Educating people about the dangers of drunk driving is also
not effective, because many drunk drivers falsely believe they can drive safely. (October 27, 2003)
-
199. One of the most important reasons for variability in a person's response to a "drink" is the size of the drink. While bottled
beer or small bottles of wine contain fixed volumes of liquid, when a person goes to a bar or makes drinks at home, the volume of
beer, wine, or whiskey can vary tremendously. For example, tap beer comes in glasses that vary in size from around 8-22 ounces, yet
each size is called a "drink". Wine is pored into small or large glasses that are not always "full". Finally, although a "jigger" of
whiskey is usually about 1-1.5 ounces, some bartenders "free pour" whiskey, using their experience to approach the amount of a jigger.
So beware when someone says, "I only had two drinks". (October 20, 2003)
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198. Can the use of rubbing alcohol on the skin contaminate a blood sample to produce an abnormally high reading of blood alcohol
concentration? Some rubbing alcohols contain ethanol (beverage alcohol), but most rubbing alcohols contain isopropyl alcohol, which
does not usually register as beverage alcohol in most analytical procedures. Nevertheless, because of this slight possibility, most
medical procedures now use betadine (a non-alcohol-containing disinfectant) to swab areas for blood collection. (October 13, 2003)
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197. What causes people to die from drinking high amounts of alcohol during their lifetime? Disregarding alcohol dependence ("alcoholism"), which occurs in 10% of
drinkers, the main cause of death is liver cirrhosis. Interestingly, cirrhosis occurs in only about 20% of heavy drinkers (including alcohol dependent persons). The main
causes of death which might be attributable to alcohol include pancreatitis, cancers of certain types (mouth, esophagus, stomach, possibly pancreatic and colorectal),
nutritional problems, and weakening of the immune system. Alcohol may cause more deaths through overdose, car crashes, homicides, and suicides than are caused by the direct
effects of the drug on the body. (October 6, 2003)
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196. "Sweat patches" are now being studied clinically to aid in tracking sobriety in recovering alcoholics and as indicators of compliance to
treatment. These patches are similar to large bandaids that can be placed on the skin and left for several days. They pick up and hold alcohol in the
sweat released through the skin. While they are not sufficiently accurate to be an indicator of blood alcohol concentrations, they are helpful in
determining whether a person has consumed alcohol in the past several days. (September 29, 2003)
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195. About 80-90% of ingested alcohol is metabolized (broken down) by the liver. The rest is excreted in the
breath, urine, or sweat. Although alcohol can be measured in any of these for indirect determination of blood
alcohol, the best method is via a blood sample. Breath measures of alcohol are somewhat inaccurate depending on how
the sample is taken and the type of analytical instrument. Urine alcohol levels are quite variable, and are
therefore of no value for measuring precise blood alcohol, and sweat samples generally only indicate the presence or
absence of alcohol in the body. (September 22, 2003)
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194. Somewhere between 0.08% and 0.10% (the former DWI limit), people begin to have trouble walking ("inability to
walk a straight line") or standing on one foot. They also often show nystagmus (eyeball drifting, and inability to
focus on a moving target), and have trouble counting backwards or reciting the alphabet. Thus, "field-testing" for
DWI consists of observation of several or all of these last five alcohol-related problems. (September 15, 2003)
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193. The Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) BAC of 0.08% (in most states) gives us a good place to start in
understanding how alcohol disrupts motor coordination. Scientific studies have shown that the ability to drive
begins to be affected at 0.05%. Most people understand that the ability to drive depends upon good judgment,
ability to steer, ability to use the brakes, and lack of risk-taking. At 0.08% (DWI limit), there is significant
reduction in judgment, increased risk-taking, and some disruption of muscle control. (September 8, 2003)
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192. The new low-carbohydrate diets recommend that no alcohol be consumed during the diet. Why is this? The reason is probably
that several forms of alcohol have significant carbohydrate content (especially beer). On the other hand, gin and vodka have no
carbohydrate content. Rather than indicating that some alcoholic beverages are OK and some are not, the general recommendation
of "no alcohol" is a practical one, especially since all alcohol provides calories that are not necessary. In addition, alcohol
tends to stimulate the appetite. (September 1, 2003)
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191. Does alcohol affect adolescent brains more than adult brains? This is a huge scientific question. Although there has been a relative lack of
research on this topic, a few recent findings indicate that the earlier a person starts drinking, the greater likelihood there is of the person becoming
alcohol dependent ("alcoholic"). On the other hand, genetics has not been factored into these studies. More research is necessary to come to a final
conclusion. (August 25, 2003)
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190. Which is more dangerous - drinking two alcoholic drinks a day or 4
cups of coffee a day? Neither is dangerous, unless a) a person is very
sensitive to the effects of alcohol, so that sleepiness occurs, b) drinks
the alcohol and drives a vehicle (slight impairment), or c) is very
sensitive to the effects of caffeine so that the coffee will produce mild
anxiety or rapid heart rate. It is this lack of toxicity in most people
that has made these beverages a tradition to consume in moderate
quantities. (August 18, 2003)
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189. Is there any effect of alcohol on the body's immune system? A few studies have suggested that
drinking alcohol can reduce immune system function, leading to a greater chance of infections and
autoimmune diseases. While this is a very understudied area, it makes sense that if alcohol had a
major effect on the immune system, our society would have noticed such a correlation over the years,
since alcohol is so widely used. The conclusion is, then, that alcohol probably has a minor, if any,
effect on the human immune system. (August 11, 2003)
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188. What is "ale"? While many people think of ale as a type of beer, it is traditionally a malt beverage, darker,
heavier, and more bitter than beer. Usually containing about 6% alcohol by volume, it has slightly higher alcohol
content than beer, which can range from 3-5%. However, microbreweries in the U.S. are now making many types of ale that
are simply another choice for customers who order "beer". (August 4, 2003)
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187. Beverage alcohol is made from fermented materials: grapes (wine), hops (beer), rice (sake), corn (spirits), etc. Why are there no fermented beverages
from some fruits or vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, cantaloupe, cauliflower, etc.? In general, either these products have low levels of carbohydrates
(esp. sugar), or their fermented products do not taste good (green bean wine?), or no one has attempted to make desirable alcoholic beverages from them. (July
28, 2003)
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186. Older terms for "hangover" are "wailing of cats" (German), "out of tune"
(Italian), "woody mouth" (French), "workmen in my head" (Norwegian), and "pain in
the roots of my hair" (Swedish). (July 21, 2003)
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185. There are several ways to report blood alcohol (ethanol) levels. (Ethanol is the drinking type of alcohol.) The standard reporting in legal cases
is (for example) ".08%", which means ".08 grams of ethanol in 100 milliliters of blood". In animal research studies, scientists would use a different
measure: "80 mg/dl", which means the same as .08% but stands for "80 milligrams of ethanol in one deciliter of blood". Other scientists might give their
results in "millimoles of ethanol". These differences grew out of tradition, and the use of different units of measure in different scientific
disciplines. It can be confusing, even for the "alcohol researcher". (July 14, 2003)
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184. Scientists often report their findings in human research studies in terms of "grams of alcohol
administered" when discussing how much alcohol was given to experimental subjects. Why do they use
such jargon and how many grams of alcohol are in a standard drink? Roughly 14 grams of alcohol is in a
standard drink in the United States (1 beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 shot of spirits). "Grams" is used in
this case because it is a universal measure when there is no standard drink around the world.
(July 7, 2003; updated February 12, 2007)
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183. Is alcohol used in nail polish removers? No, not usually. The main ingredient in nail polish removers is
acetone, another organic solvent. However, nail polish removers have been abused by people thinking they contain ethyl
alcohol. Acetone, like alcohol, is also very toxic to many organs of the body. (June 30, 2003)
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182. Alcohol can cause the "jitters". What are the "jitters"? "Jitters" is an old term for "shakes". People generally don't shake while under
the influence of alcohol (unless they're doing a drunken hula dance!). But heavy drinkers can have the "shakes" when their blood alcohol levels fall
after being elevated for a long period of time. These "shakes", usually accompanying a hangover, are a physical withdrawal sign, indicating the body
is trying to compensate for the lengthy depression produced by alcohol. When the "shakes" become severe, this is a sign of "delirium tremens", which
can be associated with death in some cases. (June 23, 2003)
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181. The blood alcohol level that usually causes death (either through respiratory depression or aspiration of vomit into the lungs while asleep) is 0.4 grams per liter
(0.08 is the legal limit for driving in most states). The danger of overdose is greatly enhanced with other central nervous system drugs, such as hypnotics
(sleep-inducers) or anti-anxiety drugs. (June 16, 2003)
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180. Can mental depression cause alcohol dependence? There is no evidence that it can. Can alcohol dependence cause mental depression?
Yes, depression often occurs after detoxification, but will generally get better and disappear over time, even if untreated. (June 9, 2003)
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179. Alcohol causes dehydration, particularly by blocking antidiuretic hormone in the pituitary gland. This leads to increased urination,
causing a relative loss of water throughout the body. Even beer, in large quantities, can produce this effect. (June 2, 2003)
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178. An anti-seizure drug, topiramate, has recently been shown to promote abstinence in alcohol-dependent individuals. The apparent mechanism is an
action in reducing dopamine release in the medial forebrain bundle through a direct action on glutamate function. More studies are needed to confirm the
true clinical value of this drug and its exact mechanism of action. (May 26, 2003)
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177. Based upon several neurotransmitter systems that seem to be dysregulated ("not working right") in the medial forebrain bundle ("pleasure pathway") of
the brain, scientists are speculating that there may be different treatments in the future for different types of alcohol dependence. Thus naltrexone
works on the endorphin system, ondansetron (in clinical study) works on the serotonin system, and acamprosate (in clinical study) works on the glutamate
and/or GABA systems. (May 19, 2003)
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176. There are early onset and late onset forms of alcohol dependence. The
early onset one (before the age of 25) is more severe, more closely
associated with genetic causes, and involves more male than female sufferers.
This is called Type II or Type B. Type I or Type A is "late onset" alcohol
dependence, and is probably driven more by sensitivity to alcohol and its
effects in producing dependence. There is also a "very early onset" alcohol
dependence, where people seem to become "hooked" with the very first drink
(although there is almost no research on this type). (May 12, 2003)
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175. Alcohol dependence is just like other medical diseases. Some people
have "what it takes" to get the disease, other people don't. Having "what it
takes" involves having a genetic tendency, plus other (as yet) unknown
factors. (Remember, we're not talking about voluntary alcohol abuse, as in
college student drinking.) (May 5, 2003)
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174. How does caffeine counteract the effects of alcohol? The answer is "very
poorly"! Caffeine is a mild stimulant. It has been estimated that it would take
20 gallons of coffee to sober up a severely intoxicated person! (Does this mean
that they would stay awake because they had to pee all the time?) This is a poor
"antidote" for too much alcohol! (April 28, 2003)
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173. Where in the brain does "craving" for alcohol arise? No one knows for
sure, but a recently published paper suggests that craving (desire, urge) for
alcohol arises in the orbitofrontal cortex, a part of the brain behind your
forehead. This may be the major site of craving, or it could be only one of
several brain areas involved in this sensation. (April 21, 2003)
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172. Why can't aspirin be taken with alcohol? It can, but not every day
when people are drinking every day. Aspirin (and similar pain-relievers)
can be used to reduce hangover headache, or alcohol can be drunk by people
who take aspirin every day for arthritis (for example), but too much alcohol
and such pain-relievers can lead to stomach upset, and sometimes stomach
ulcers. (April 14, 2003)
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171. What are "fetal alcohol effects"? These are some or lesser
problems (compared to fetal alcohol syndrome, FAS) seen in a child, caused
by a mother's drinking during pregnancy. These could range from learning
disabilities to some of the facial defects that are usually seen with FAS.
Fetal alcohol effects are thought to occur with less drinking during
pregnancy, compared to women who drink enough to produce FAS. (April 7,
2003)
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170. What are the effects of alcohol on the fetus? One in 1000
heavily-drinking women has a child with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) -
severe birth abnormalities, including characteristic facial defects,
sometimes missing fingers, toes, kidneys, small brain, and low IQ. These
are permanent defects, which place the child at a severe disadvantage in
growth and life adjustment. (March 31, 2003)
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169. There are phrases used with alcoholic drinks like "on the rocks"
and "neat". What do these mean? "On the rocks" means "booze with ice".
"Neat" means "pure liquor" (without ice). (March 24, 2003)
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168. Some people say "alcohol is a solvent". What does this mean?
Alcohol has chemical qualities that allow it to solubilize (place into
solution) certain drugs that are not able to be dissolved in water. This
is a chemical phenomenon that is not easy to explain. But some
pharmaceutical agents require alcohol for this reason. This is why some
liquid cold and vitamin remedies (which are easier to consume than tablets
or capsules) are on the market, especially for older patients who cannot
swallow tablets or capsules. (March 17, 2003)
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166. What is meant by "loss of inhibitions" with alcohol? Everyone's
behavior and personality is under some degree of restraint, because of
prior experiences, laws, customs, personal beliefs, and values. The
frontal brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex, control these
characteristics of the human character. Alcohol in certain "doses"
depresses these brain areas, which relieves them from restraining behavior
and "values", and people behave in a manner that is different from their
usual behavior. This "loss of inhibitions" is an early part of the
condition known as "intoxication". (March 3, 2003)
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165. Why can some people drink a lot of alcohol and never seem
intoxicated? "Seeming" to be intoxicated is a very subjective thing.
People might seem pretty normal (especially to those drinking with them!),
but inside their head they are euphoric, dissociated from the real world,
dizzy, nauseated, exhilarated, or all of the above. Most people, when
they reach a blood alcohol level above 0.15% (5-6 drinks in a short period
of time) will show signs of intoxication: slurring words, loss of balance,
repetitive eye movements (nystagmus), and impaired judgment when placed in
a situation where they have to make important decisions. A few people,
however, have a great deal of natural "tolerance" (resistance to the
effects of alcohol), so they will rarely appear intoxicated. (February
24, 2003)
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164. Children who have an alcohol dependent parent are 3-4 times more likely to
become alcohol dependent. This means that since the national incidence of alcohol
dependence is 5%, such children have a 15-20% chance of becoming alcohol dependent.
The probability of becoming dependent if both parents are alcohol dependent has not
been determined, but it is likely over 50%. (February 17, 2003)
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163. There are three times as many "alcoholic" men than "alcoholic" women
in the United States. Why? There is no firm answer to this question, but
the answer is not that men drink more than women. Further research should
answer this question. (February 10, 2003)
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162. Alcohol is a "stomachic". What does that mean? "Stomachic" is an
old term that refers to the effects of alcohol on the stomach. The effects
of alcohol on the stomach are two-fold: 1) it relaxes a person during a
meal and increases digestion, and 2) in large amounts, it irritates the
stomach lining and causes heartburn, irritation, and (perhaps) ulceration.
More research has been performed on the negative effects of alcohol on the
stomach than on the beneficial effects of alcohol on the stomach.
(February 3, 2003)
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161. Alcohol is said to have protective effects on the heart. Is this best seen with red wine? Some recent studies have indicated that any type of
alcohol (in moderation - not more than 2-3 drinks per day!) can reduce the risk of myocardial infarction. How alcohol produces this effect is not
entirely known. As always, the harmful or dangerous effects of alcohol should be taken into consideration when making a decision to drink alcohol for any
reason. (January 27, 2003)
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160. Why does alcohol make you nauseated (nauseous)? Alcohol has two effects that can
make people feel like "barfing", "hurling", "throwing up" (medical term: vomiting). One
is the direct effect of alcohol on sensitive stomach linings: it acts as a poison,
causing a complex series of events that causes the body to try to get rid of the toxin.
The second it is that it has a direct effect on the emetic (vomiting) center of the
brain stem to stimulate vomiting. Everyone has a different sensitivity to each of these
effects, leading to some people never becoming nauseated, and other people becoming
nauseous with moderate drinking. (January 20, 2003)
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159. How can high school students overcome the "pressure" from others
to drink alcohol? "No, thanks, I prefer Pepsi." "I've tried it
before but I got very sick." "It's illegal, and I really don't want
to break the law." "I had a friend who drank and was in a car wreck.
I don't want to take the chance of that happening to me." "I don't
need alcohol to have fun." "I feel great, why would I want to drink
something that can make me sick?" "My friends and I don't believe in
drinking. Why don't you join us?" (January 13, 2003)
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158. What is alcohol "craving"? Although most of us have "craved" something in our lives (alcohol, certain types of food,
comfort, sex, etc.), craving means different things to different people. It is likely that craving is not the same as alcohol
dependence ("alcoholism"), for many alcohol-dependent people report that they do not always crave alcohol, but that they "need"
alcohol most of the time. Scientists thus have a hard time measuring craving, and in many cases would prefer the words "urge" or
"strong desire" to describe the constant seeking of a chemical or activity. (January 6, 2003)
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157. Wouldn't getting rid of alcohol in the world reduce alcohol dependence? Probably, except that the brain "dysregulation" related to alcohol
dependence would still be present, and might cause the person to use another drug or to express some other compulsive behavior. More research must be done
to confirm this suggestion, however. (December 30, 2002)
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156. If alcohol dependence is a brain disease, what is wrong with the brain? It appears as if there is a neurochemical abnormality (perhaps caused by
abnormal genes) in the mesolimbic dopamine system ("pleasure pathway") of the brain. One or more of several neurotransmitter systems may be "dysregulated"
(not working normally) in the pleasure pathway. Thus alcohol helps to "fix" these neuro-dysregulations, leading the person to subconsciously be unable to
stop drinking without help. (December 23, 2002)
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155. How does alcohol cause alcoholism? Recent research findings indicate that alcohol doesn't cause alcoholism. To appreciate this, people must
understand that alcohol dependence (the scientific word for "alcoholism") is a brain disease. This brain disease is expressed through the compulsive
drinking of alcohol. Thus if a person never drinks alcohol, the disease will not be seen. (December 16, 2002)
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154. What is a "high-ball"? While this term is not used much anymore,
most older Americans remember this alcoholic drink as a mixture of whisky
or other liquor diluted with water, soda, or ginger ale, and served with
ice in a tall glass. (December 9, 2002)
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153. What is "sloe gin"? While gin is a clear alcoholic spirit made
from the fermentation of juniper berries, sloe gin is a cordial or liqueur
flavored with sloe -- a small, sour, blackish fruit of the blackthorn
shrub. (December 2, 2002)
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152. We often hear that alcohol is an anesthetic. Is this true? An anesthetic in
pharmacological terms is a drug that reduces pain. Loosely, alcohol reduces emotional pain
by making people feel good (for a brief time). Technically, alcohol has characteristics of
both local and general anesthetics. When applied directly to nerve cells in the laboratory,
alcohol reduces nerve transmission, and therefore can reduce pain. This use occurs in
medicine when alcohol is injected around nerves to calm severe pain. In the Civil War,
alcohol was given orally to wounded soldiers on the battlefield to reduce severe pain during
bullet removal and other operations. It is not as effective as today's improved
anesthetics, however. (November 25, 2002)
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151. Can alcohol cure a cold? This is a piece of erroneous folklore
borne of the observation that sick people feel better when they
drink. There is an old saying "When you have a cold, hang your hat
on the bedpost, climb into bed, drink until two hats appear, and then
your cold will be cured" (anonymous). In actuality, nothing cures a
cold, but alcohol does appear in some liquid cold remedies, mainly as
a solvent for analgesic and antihistamine ingredients. Of course,
the alcohol has its own beneficial effect of sedation. (November 18,
2002)
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149. What is "brew"? This is another one of the many words in the
English language that relates to alcohol (is it any wonder why alcohol is
such a big part of American culture?). "Brew" is a colloquial name for
"beer". "Brew" also relates to the making of beer or other concoctions by
steeping, boiling, and fermenting ingredients such as malts and hops.
"Brewage" is a fermented liquor brewed from malt. (November 4, 2002)
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148. Does the beverage industry provide much money for researching the effects of their product? No, very
little. Around 95% of the (rather minimal) research on alcohol and the problems it produces is funded by
the federal government (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) in this nation. (October 28,
2002)
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147. Alcohol, in moderation, can save lives. One or two drinks per day is protective against
atherosclerotic heart disease, some cancers, and (perhaps) some other diseases. Why don't we use it more
for such conditions? (October 21, 2002)
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146. Alcohol, like many other chemicals, is a poison. Used in excess, it can stop your breathing, it can
rot your liver, and it can cause the fatal disease of "addiction". Why, then, is it legal to sell and use?
(October 14, 2002)
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145. Does alcohol cause you to feel "sexy"? Certainly! Shakespeare once wrote, "drink increases the desire, but takes away the
performance". Anyone who has drunk alcohol has experienced this effect, but few people realize that it is strongly based on dose and a
person's physiology and environment. Everyone responds differently to alcohol. One person may respond by feeling increased sexual
desire, and be able to "perform" very well. Another person may feel "high", but would never think of having sex while drunk. In
general, however, the relaxation produced by alcohol (ranging from mild to extreme), is the reason for Shakespeare's observation.
(October 7, 2002)
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144. Does alcohol make you more "creative"? Of course! But how much of this "creativity" is "perception" and how much of it is real? No one knows. There
are a lot of "alcoholic" Pulitzer-prize winning authors. Is their success due to alcohol, or is it due to intelligence, or is it due to being able to work
longer hours without fatigue, because of alcohol? We need more research like this on alcohol's effects! (September 30, 2002)
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143. Does alcohol make you "stronger"? Yes! But everyone knows that alcohol makes you attempt things that you wouldn't do when you were sober. So, you
might not hesitate to do some things (lift a heavy object, fight someone) when you have imbibed, which you might not have done before. But the research behind
alcohol making you "stronger" is non-existent. Probably it would show that alcohol does not increase muscle strength. We need more research like this on
alcohol's effects! (September 23, 2002)
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142. Recent numbers from The University of Michigan's "Monitoring the
Future" project indicates that the following teenagers had used alcohol
during the previous year: 43% of eighth-graders, 65% of tenth-graders,
and 73% of twelfth-graders. Those who had "been drunk" in the past 30
days, according to this report, were 8% of eighth-graders, 24% of
tenth-graders, and 32% of twelfth-graders. (September 16, 2002)
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141. What effect does alcohol have on the lungs? Unlike another highly "addictive" drug (nicotine) alcohol has no major effect on the lungs. And nicotine itself
probably does not have a major effect on the lungs; rather, the cigarette, with its tars, carbon monoxide, and other ingredients play the largest role in increasing
the risk for lung cancer with smokers. Interestingly, about 70-90% of heavy drinkers also smoke. (September 9, 2002)
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140. There are several reasons why alcohol helps people to have "fun". First, it "disconnects" the frontal brain areas, so
that people feel less inhibited about doing things. Second, it activates the pleasure pathway of the brain so that people
actually feel good when they drink. Finally, it provides "euphoria", or a sense of well-being. Of course, all of these
effects are similar, but exactly how alcohol affects the brain to produce these actions is still under investigation.
(September 2, 2002)
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139. Unfortunately, the word "alcoholic" means different things to many people. To the public, this word is
usually pejorative, meaning someone who drinks too much, too often, and only cares about drinking. Many people
drink "alcoholic-ly", but usually only during brief periods. For example, college students often drink
"alcoholic-ly", but are simply having a good time. The more scientific term for "alcoholic" is "alcohol
dependent", which relates to pathological drinking in people who have a brain disease. (August 26, 2002)
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138. If you suffer "withdrawal" from alcohol, even a hangover, aren't
you an alcoholic? Absolutely not! Many people who drink too much alcohol
(even one time!) suffer from hangover, and they are not
alcoholic. Even people who drink very much, very often, and who suffer
severe withdrawal symptoms, may not be alcoholic! "Alcoholism" is now
scientifically defined as an "alcohol dependence" disease.
Withdrawal is only one of several criteria that help diagnose alcohol
dependence, so withdrawal from alcohol alone is not the same as "alcoholism". (August 19, 2002)?
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137. What are other names for someone who drinks a lot? According to
several dictionaries: drunkard, inebriate, sot, soak, bibber, bibbler,
barfly, dipsomaniac, rummy, guzzler, swiller, soaker, sponge, boozer,
boozehound, lush, souse, wino, alchy, juicehead, juicer, hooch hound, gin
hound, swillbelly, swillpot, stew, stewbum, elbow-bender. All of these
terms are now felt to be derogatory, for many peopleee (but not all) who
drink a lot are known to have a chronic medical illness. (August 12, 2002)
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136. Why are so many Native Americans alcoholic? They may not be. We see more drinking among Native Americans, but this doesn't mean they're alcoholic.
Remember that "alcoholism" is a broad, overused term that (to some people) means the same as problem drinking. But the better term for alcoholic today is
"alcohol dependent", and new research is indicating that some American tribes have a low rate of alcohol dependence, while other tribes have a higher rate of
alcohol dependence. But to broadly state that all Native Americans have a high rate of alcohol dependence is probably wrong. (August 5, 2002)
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135. Why do some people who drink a lot become addicted to alcohol, and
others who drink a lot do not? The easy answer is that some people have
"what it takes" to become addicted (newer term: dependent). Some people
have a vulnerability for the disease (some of which is genetic), while
others will never develop the disease. Scientists are trying to
understand exactly why this happens. (July 29, 2002)
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134. What is ondansetron? Ondansetron (Zofran) is a drug that is
used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. It has also been
shown, in several studies, to reduce the "craving" in
alcohol-dependent patients who have a more severe, genetically-driven
form of the disease. If future research continues to confirm such
results, the drug may be approved for the treatment of alcohol
dependence, joining other drugs such as naltrexone as an aid to
helping people who are trying to stop drinking. (July 22, 2002)
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133. What is nalmefene? Nalmefene (Revex) is an opioid antagonist that is on the market for
the treatment of known or suspected opioid (for example, heroin) overdose. It is presently
being investigated in human clinical studies for the treatment of alcohol craving. It has a
similar effect as its more well-known chemical cousins, naloxone (Narcan) and naltrexone
(ReVia). (July 15, 2002)
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132. Is liquor in any quantity good for you? Whereas good scientific studies have shown that
wine (in moderation, 1-2 glasses per day) has health benefits, there are inconclusive studies
about liquor (spirits, such as vodka or scotch) having such benefits. However, some studies
indicate that alcohol, not wine alone, can be beneficial with modest consumption. Some
physicians prescribe a glass of wine, beer, or warm sherry to aid sleep at bedtime in the
elderly. And it makes sense that small amounts of alcohol can be useful as a relaxant and
sleep-aid. (July 8, 2002)
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131. Can someone become "addicted" to Nyquil, which has 10% alcohol as an ingredient?
Although the alcohol is added as a mild sedative, there is very little chance of a person
becoming dependent on therapeutic doses ("when used as directed"). First, the quantity of
alcohol is not sufficient to produce dependence. Second, we know that alcohol does not cause
dependence, unless the person has the "vulnerability" for the disease (formerly known as
"alcoholism"). (July 1, 2002)
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130. Why do different states have different legal limits for driving while intoxicated (DWI)? As
most people know, the DWI limit varies from 0.08 to 0.10% among the states. There is clear
evidence that most people are unable to safely drive a car at either level, but some states are
more conservative than others. In actuality, there is strong scientific evidence that 0.05%
(about 2-3 drinks per hour) is related to driving impairment, but the commercial alcohol lobby
in the United States has so far been able to place profit over human safety in the eyes of state
legislatures and Congress. The American Medical Association and Mothers Against Drunk
Driving support an 0.05% DWI level, and this is the level allowed in most European nations.
(June 24, 2002)
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129. Alcohol is flammable, which means that it will burn if set on fire. This quality is used in
the production of canned fuels, which contain a jelly-like substance containing wood alcohol
(methyl alcohol). This is not "drinking alcohol" (ethanol) and the canned fuels are sometimes
carelessly used by people to produce intoxication. Methyl alcohol, however, is very toxic and
can cause blindness. (June 17, 2002)
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128. What causes a "hangover"? The term hangover refers to the residual feeling of drug effects the day
after using the drug. In the case of alcohol, the hangover is a "mini-withdrawal" from the massive
depressant effects of the drug on body symptoms. This withdrawal is a state of hyperexcitability caused
by the body's systems trying to get back to normal. Thus, the heavy drinker experiences headache,
upset stomach, early morning awakening, rapid heart rate, and other signs of nervous system excitation.
(June 10, 2002)
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127. We often hear about "alcoholics" drinking a quart of spirits a day. How is this possible? Many
drugs produce tolerance (resistance to the drug's effects) by one of two major ways. Either the liver
enzymes increase their activity to break down the drug, or the tissue (in this case, the brain) somehow
becomes less sensitive to the drug's effects. Both of these types of tolerance are at work when a person
drinks large amounts of alcohol - leading to the eventual consumption of quantities that would kill a social
drinker. (June 3, 2002)
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126. Can alcohol increase anxiety? Apparently yes, in small doses alcohol produces "disinhibition" of
specific brain areas, leading to heightened arousal in brain areas involved in mood. Thus, in an
already-anxious person, small non-sedating doses can increase anxiety. In higher doses, the well-known
anti-anxiety effects of alcohol kick in. (May 27, 2002)
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125. What effect does alcohol have on the esophagus? The esophagus, the tube running from the mouth
to the stomach, is sometimes heavily affected by chronic drinking, leading to "esophrygeal varices".
These are inflamed veins bulging into the esophagus that will bleed with the continued passage of alcohol
and food. It is critical that the person stop drinking for proper treatment. (May 20, 2002)
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124. What does alcohol do to the prostate? Apparently, very little. Recent studies have shown that
even heavy drinking does not increase the risk of prostate cancer. There is also apparently no relationship
between drinking and benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH, enlarged prostate). (May 13, 2002)
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123. What does alcohol do to the pancreas? The pancreas is the main producer of insulin in the body.
Problems with the pancreas lead to Type 1 diabetes. While large doses of alcohol do not cause diabetes,
there is a problem with the pancreas that develops with some problem drinkers. The problem is chronic
pancreatitis, a very painful condition that is difficult to treat. (May 6, 2002)
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122. Is alcoholism a "will power" problem? No, although people look at the willingness to use alcohol,
especially to the point of intoxication many times a week, a "will power" problem. However, the simple
excess use of alcohol is not alcohol dependence (the new term for "alcoholism"). People are alcohol
dependent when they exhibit consistent clinical signs of inability to control their drinking, along with
significant life problems. Such signs must meet certain diagnostic criteria established by the American
Psychiatric Association. An alcohol-dependent person does not have a will power problem any more than
someone who has high blood pressure of unknown cause. (April 29, 2002)
